Better Path Coalition Outlines Needed Environmental, Climate Policy Changes For Incoming Shapiro Administration

On January 10, the Better Path Coalition submitted a list of needed environmental and climate policy changes to Governor-Elect Shapiro and members of his environmental transition team. 

The letter urges Shapiro to take immediate steps toward a ban on fracking by reinstating the ban on drilling and fracking in Dimock, Susquehanna County that was lifted by the Department of Environmental Protection the same day he announced Coterra’s no-contest plea in the grand jury case. 

Other recommendations include addressing well abandonment, banning all road spreading of drilling waste, protecting Pennsylvanians from toxic, radioactive oil and gas waste, addressing potentially catastrophic methane leaks from underground storage facilities, and reforming state agencies.

The Coalition also urges Shapiro to reject hydrogen hubs and carbon capture schemes being proposed in Pennsylvania. 

The unproven, often cost-prohibitive solutions are nothing more than attempts by the fossil fuel industry to continue doing business as usual behind a thin, greenwashed veil. 

Taken together, the solutions represent the next generation of fossil fuel development in Pennsylvania and guarantee continued drilling and fracking.

The letter closes by calling on Shapiro to lead where his predecessors have failed. They hitched Pennsylvania’s wagon to two dying stars - plastics and fossil fuels.

If Pennsylvania remains on its current course, he will be the governor when the climate clock ticks down to zero in about six and a half years.

Click Here for a copy of the letter.

PA DEP Public Notice Dashboards:

-- Pennsylvania Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Jan. 7 to 13  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices/Opportunities To Comment - Jan. 14  [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 46 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In Jan. 14 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

PA Oil & Gas Industry Compliance Reports:

-- PA Oil & Gas Industry Has Record Year: Cost, Criminal Convictions Up; $3.1 Million In Penalties Collected; Record Number Of Violations Issued; Major Compliance Issues Uncovered; Evidence Of Health Impacts Mounts

-- DEP Report Finds: Conventional Oil & Gas Drillers Routinely Abandon Wells; Fail To Report How Millions Of Gallons Of Waste Is Disposed; And Non-Compliance Is An ‘Acceptable Norm’

Related Articles This Week:

-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans [PaEN]

-- DEP Releases 2 More Bid Solicitations To Plug 38 Abandoned Conventional Gas Wells In Venango County At Taxpayer Expense; Average Cost To Plug $95,000  [PaEN]

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Report Shows Diversified Energy, Owner Of Over 22,500 Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In PA, May Be Financially Insolvent  [PaEN]

-- Fish & Boat Commission Investigation Of Pollution From PA General Energy Natural Gas Development Construction Site On Exceptional Value Loyalsock Creek Results In Settlement Agreement  [PaEN]

-- PJM’s Preliminary Review Of Christmas Storm Electric Generation Failures Shows Natural Gas Units Failed To Provide Power At Over Triple The Rate Of Other Generation  [PaEN]

-- EPA Invites Comments On Draft Oil & Gas Waste Injection Well Permit In Young Twp., Jefferson County; Feb. 13 Virtual Hearing Tentatively Set  [PaEN]

-- Better Path Coalition Outlines Needed Environmental, Climate Policy Changes For Incoming Shapiro Administration  [PaEN]

-- American Petroleum Institute Unveils Plan To Prioritize U.S. Natural Gas And Oil; Target Northeast U.S. For Pipeline Development  [PaEN]

-- EQT, Chesapeake, Equitrans Shale Gas Companies Announce Methane Reduction Initiatives  [PaEN]

-- Groups Host Jan. 17 Webinar On Climate & Health Impacts Of Methane Gas From Oil & Gas Operations  [PaEN]

-- FracTracker Alliance Hosts Jan. 17 Webinar On Exploring Oil & Gas Industrialization Impacts On Watersheds  [PaEN]

-- Bob Donnan’s Blog: Has Anything Changed? - Shalefield Stories, Revisiting Our Fracking Past

[Posted: January 10, 2023]  PA Environment Digest